Meanwhile, FBI Director James Comey said suspect Tashfeen Malik did not pledge allegiance to ISIS on social media, contrary to previous reports. Many news outlets had previously reported that Malik had posted on Facebook pledging allegiance to ISIS, citing unnamed government officials. Speaking Wednesday, Comey said these reports were false, but said that suspects Syed Rizwan Farook and Tashfeen Malik had communicated about their plans in private messages. He did not say the messages were encrypted. Speaking at a news conference in New York City Wednesday, Comey also said there was no evidence that the suspects had any links to any organized terrorist groups.

James Comey: “We still see in San Bernardino no indication of direct contact with a foreign terrorist organization, and obviously that would include any direction from a foreign terrorist organization. So far in this investigation, we have found no evidence of posting on social media by either of them, at that period of time and thereafter, reflecting their commitment to jihad or to martyrdom. I’ve seen some reporting on that, and that’s a garble. Right? The investigation continues, but we have not found that kind of thing.”